Stories for February 2009

Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil credit access back to pre-crisis level says Central Bank

Brazilian credit availability has returned to levels seen before the deepening of a global credit crisis in September, Brazilian Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles said Monday.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Aerolineas takeover shadows Cristina K visit to Spain

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner began on Monday her first official visit to Spain amid expectations that she would try to reduce tension over the expropriation of the airline Aerolineas Argentinas from the Spanish tourism group Marsans.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
OPEC calls for full compliance with agreed supply cuts

The oil cartel OPEC is willing to cut crude output further at a meeting in March, the group's secretary-general said on Monday in London. But he also underlined he would like to see full compliance of members with existing curbs first.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
WTO debate to assess protectionism and trade barriers

World Trade Organisation (WTO) members met on Monday to assess how far the financial crisis has encouraged protectionism. Diplomats representing rich and poor countries discussed WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy's January report showing countries had ignored the Group of 20 nations' plea in November against raising trade barriers.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Russia temporarily bans beef imports from several suppliers

Russia announced it was temporarily suspending beef imports from United States, Canada, Uruguay, Byelorussia and Ukraine because “banned noxious substances” had been detected in some shipments.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Germany top of goods exporter for sixth year running

Germany was the world's biggest goods exporter for a sixth straight year in 2008, staying just ahead of China by shifting nearly 1.5 trillion US dollars worth of merchandise, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Monday.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivia, Venezuela, South Africa need visas to enter UK

Bolivia and Venezuelans, South Africans and citizens from Lesotho and Swaziland visiting the United Kingdom will need a visa, under new rules issued by the Home Office. The named countries failed a test of the threat posed by their citizens in terms of security, immigration and crime.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine “soy king” warns about the “tragic convergence”

The tragic convergence of drought, international crisis and export taxes could lead to the destruction of Argentina's farm production and the camp is in need of immediate support.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 19:59 UTC
Police agents accused of attack on Venezuelan synagogue

Seven Venezuelan police agents and four civilians have been arrested in connection with an attack on a synagogue, according to reports in the Caracas press. President Hugo Chavez, whom Jewish groups accuse of encouraging anti-Semitism, referred to the arrests and said the attack was led by a police officer who had worked closely with the rabbi at the synagogue.
Sunday, February 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivia's Morales travels to Russia for energy deal

Bolivian President Evo Morales is scheduled to visit Russia February 16 to sign formal agreements enabling Russia's state-run OAO Gazprom to invest in Bolivia's natural gas industry.